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TOUR PROGRAMME

Upon
arrival in Bangkok airport, a quick shuttle bus transfer will bring you to
Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel for your overnight stay and rest before your
early morning flight to Yangon.

Day 2:

An
early flight will bring you to Yangon International Airport, where you will be
welcomed and transferred to your hotel. Myanmar’s former capital, Yangon is
perhaps best known for the massive golden spire of the Shwedagon Pagoda.
Central Yangon still retains numerous impressive buildings from the British
colonial period. This afternoon you will visit Scott Market, Sule Pagoda, and
view the Chaukhtagyi Reclining Buddha.

Day 3:

This
morning fly to Mandalay and spend the rest of the day visiting sites around the
city, such as: the Royal Palace, featuring a 33 meter high watchtower; Mahamuni
Pagoda, housing the four-meter-high Mahamuni Buddha covered with gold leaf;
Shwe Inbin Monastery, with exquisite wooden carvings; and Shwe Nandaw
Monastery, once used as an apartment by King Mindon. At Kuthodaw Pagoda, 729
marble slabs are inscribed with the entire Buddhist scripture, and Kyauktaw-Gyi
Pagoda is known for its huge seated Buddha image. Late in the day, climb
Mandalay Hill for fantastic sunset views over the city. (U Bein Bridge is also
a rewarding location at sunset.)

Day 4:

Today,
drive to Pyin Oo Lwin, a former British hill station in the Shan hills east of
Mandalay. Here enjoy the beautiful 170 hectare National Kandawgyi Botanic
Garden, visit Naung Kan Gyi Paya for a hilltop view over the town, and step
aboard a traditional stagecoach to explore the colonial town centre, viewing
the 100 year old Church of the Immaculate Conception, a Chinese temple built by
Yunnan immigrants, and Candacraig Hotel, a colonial mansion built by British
Bombay Burma Trading company in 1904. Return to Mandalay for your overnight
stay.

Day 5:

Rise
early to catch your flight to Bagan, where you will visit some of the thousands
of incredible pagodas and temples in the area. Ananda Temple is among the
finest, largest and best preserved temples. Dhammayangyi Temple is a pyramidal
structure with impressive mortar-less brickwork. Htilo-Minlo Temple features
traces of murals, fine plaster carvings and glazed sandstone decorations.
Shwezigon Pagoda enshrines one of the four replicas of the Buddha tooth from
Kandy, Sri Lanka. Mingalazedi, known for its fine proportions and many
beautiful glazed Jataka tiles, is also an excellent spot for a nice afternoon
view, as it is located far on the western side of the pagoda plain. Stay
overnight in Bagan.

Day 6:

This
morning drive to Mt. Popa, southeast of Bagan, home to the country’s most
powerful Nats (sacred spirits) and entrancing views. At Mount Popa are 37
life-sized Nat statues sculpted from teak, with 777 steep stairs leading up to
the 737 metre (2,417ft) high peak of this unique volcanic plug formation where
pagodas and small temples perch at the summit. After the hike, you will have a
rest and continue to Thatbyinnyu, Bagan’s highest temple. Dhammayazika Pagoda, similar
to Shwezigon Pagoda but built on a pentagon terrace, offers a nice view over
the Bagan Plain. Stay overnight in Bagan.

Day 7:

Fly
to Heho and transfer to Nyaung Shwe where you’ll board a boat to reach your
hotel on Inle Lake. A shallow 22 km long lake surrounded by the misty Shan
Mountains, Inle Lake is also the home of the Intha people. Living in villages
rising on stilts from the shallow waters, they grow flowers and vegetables in
picturesque floating gardens tended from small boats. They have become famous
for their unique one-leg rowing technique. You will visit Nga Phe Monastery to
view ancient Buddha images, and stay overnight at Inle Lake.

Day 8:

Today,
you will have a full day tour around Inle Lake. Stop at the Five-Day Market,
which rotates to different villages by the lake on a five-day schedule, where
you can see the products of the floating gardens and the different tribal
groups of the area. Drop by Indaing Pagoda, the original home of the five
famous Buddha images of Inle Lake, Phaung Daw U Pagoda, and Kaung Daing
Village, famous for rice crackers, tofu snacks and fried beans. Explore local
traditional crafts such as silk weaving at Inbawkhone, gold and silver smithing
or paper-making at Ywama, and boat making and cheroot making at Nam Pan

Day 9:

This
morning fly back to Yangon, where you will have the rest of the day for
sightseeing. Visit Botataung Pagoda, named after the soldiers who escorted
relics of Buddha from India over 2,000 years ago. This ancient monument was
completely destroyed during World War II and is today one of few pagodas in
Myanmar which allows visitors to step inside. You can also stroll around
Chinatown near Kheng Hock Keong – the largest Chinese temple in Yangon.

Day 10:

Today
you are free until your flight to Bangkok, where your overnight transit stay
will be in Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel.

Day 11:

Get
an early start today to board the only flight to Paro, by DrukAir. In clear
weather, you can enjoy magnificent views of the world’s highest peaks giving
way to the lush green Paro Valley as you land. Upon arrival, your guide will
welcome you at the airport and drive you to Thimphu. After checking in at the
hotel, visit the Folk Heritage Museum to see a replica of a traditional rural
farmhouse, and the Memorial Stupa built in the memory of the beloved 3rd King
in 1974. Stay overnight in Thimphu.

Day 12:

After
breakfast, drive north though Thimphu Valley and then hike around 2 hours to
Tango Monastery, founded in the 12th century. The present building was built in
the 15th century. Today, Tango is the residence of an important young Trulku
(reincarnate lama), and also serves as the prestigious Buddhist University for
monks. Return to the city for lunch and drive to Buddha Point to see one of the
world’s largest Buddha statues, and a panorama over Thimphu. Visit the mini zoo
to see the Takins, Bhutan’s national animal, and stop to see handmade Bhutanese
paper being created. Stay overnight in Thimphu.

Day 13:

Today
drive to Punakha, stopping at Dochula Pass for (given clear weather) superb
views of the Bhutanese Himalayas. After lunch in Punakha, visit the beautiful
Punakha Dzong, built in 1637 at the confluence of two famous rivers, Pho Chu
(Male River) and Mo Chu (Female River). Later, hike to Khamsum Yuelley Namgyel
Chorten, taking in wonderful views over the valley. Enjoy dinner in a local
village where you can try local distilled wine (Bhutanese Ara), traditional
butter tea and traditional food. Join your hosts in conversation to learn about
their life of farming, and return to Punakha for overnight.

Day 14:

Today
hike for an hour to Chime Lhakhang, a temple built by Lama Drukpa Kuenley,
known as the Divine Mad Man. He subdued demons with his “Magical
Thunderbolt" and this temple is also known as the "Temple of
Fertility". It’s believed that childless women can conceive after they are
blessed at this temple. Later, take the 4 hr drive back to Paro and have lunch.
In the afternoon, visit Kyichu Monastery; dating back to the 7th Century, this
is one of the oldest monasteries in Bhutan. Then visit the historical Drugyel
Dzong, a ruined fortress built in 1649 to commemorate victory over the
Tibetans.Stay overnight in Paro.

Day 15:

Drive
to the trailhead and hike up to the famous Paro Tiger’s Nest. Approximately a 5
hour trip, the hike does require some real effort, but you will have time for
breaks, photo opportunities and to enjoy the mountain view (horseback ascent
available upon request). Taktsang Monastery is perched on a cliff 800 meters
above Paro Valley. It is said that the great Tantric master Guru Padmasambhava
flew here from Tibet on the back of a flying tigress to propagate his teachings
in Bhutan. Take lunch during your hike, at the cafeteria or catered from a
restaurant, and later return to Paro.

Day 16:

Today,
your guide and driver will pick you up in good time for your transfer to the
airport and your departing flight

.

GUIDE PRICING

US $ POA

The price quoted here reflects the current cost of this tour as it stands.
Material modifications to the itinerary will naturally result in a proportional variance to the quotation we send you.

Highlight: Explore the Dragon Kingdom on this tour of the cultural riches and natural wonders of the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. Across Western and Central Bhutan, meet the locals in rugged mountain valleys and learn about Tantric Buddhism. Experience the unforgettable hike up to the Tiger’s Nest Monastery near Paro. Truly a unique destination, Bhutan is one place you do not want to miss.

Highlight: This
14 day exploration of Bhutan begins with the principal and better known
destinations in the west of the country before heading through its central
region and on to the little visited east, travelling through its Himalayan
forests and valleys, and absorbing the cultural
variations within the geographical areas.

Highlight: This
13 day tour of Bhutan not only takes you to the main sights of the country, but
also features a high altitude trek amongst the Himalayan peaks for the
unsurpassed views, breath-taking scenery and natural wilder-land.

Highlight: This
short tour introduces you to the main scenic and historical highlights of
Bhutan, visiting Paro Punakha and Thimpu and finishes with a trek to the famous
‘Tiger’s Nest’. An ideal and highly interesting addition to a longer Southeast
Asian Odyssey.

Spring flowers

Enjoy the springtime flowers in Bhutan.

As iconic as ‘New England in the Fall’, the vast wild
Rhododendron forests bloom in luxuriant colours and efflorescent brilliance,
set to the sound of bird song and running water against the deep blue sky and
towering white splendour of the Himalayan peaks. Best seen between mid-March
and the end of May.

Feathering your nest

Go birding.

With almost 800 bird species, Bhutan is a birding
paradise with vast tracts of unspoilt Himalayan forest wilderness areas through
which to explore. It is hard to imagine anywhere more rewarding on every level
to enjoy such a fabulous array of colourful, feathered creatures, than this
charming, culturally evocative, and so spectacularly well preserved country.

To advance is to retreat

Imbue your spirit with the true culture of Bhutan and
leave your mind spinning like a prayer wheel in the wind by going on retreat at
a monastery, exploring the innermost pathways of Buddhist understanding and
unravelling the mystery of material enmeshment into the clear light of
meditative transcendence among the shining mountains of ancient living
knowledge.

Knock on heaven's door

Trek into the serene wilderness on one of Bhutan’s high
altitude nature trails such as the Jhomolhari or Snowman treks, exploring the
drama of the peaks and the timeless culture within the landscapes. For those
unused to the exertion, the Druk Path Trek offers a shorter and easier
exploration of Bhutan’s profound Himalayan beauty.

Wild and wet

Raft or Kayak on one of Bhutan’s six great rivers. The
Paru Chu, and Mo Chu Rivers in western Bhutan provide grades III-IV, while
central Bhutan’s Mangde Chu River, and Eastern Bhutan’s Gamre Chu, Dangme Chu
and Kuri Chu can summon grades IV-V. The best times for getting on the
white-water are between March and April and again between November to December.